Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

Project Feeder Watch

• Organization Name

  Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Project Website

  http://feederwatch.org/
• Organization Website

  http://birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478
• Partners

  Bird Studies Canada
• Contact Name

  N / A
• Contact Email

  feederwatch@cornell.edu
• Contact Phone

  (607) 254-2427; (800) 843-2473
• Other Contact Information

  N / A
• Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

  Data show which bird species visit feeders at thousands of locations across the continent every winter. The data also indicate how many individuals of each species are seen. This information can be used to measure changes in the winter ranges and abundances of bird species over time.

  FeederWatch data tell us where birds are as well as where they are not. This crucial information enables scientists to piece together the most accurate population maps.

  The massive amounts of data collected by FeederWatchers across the continent help scientists understand

  • long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance
  • the timing and extent of winter irruptions of winter finches and other species.
  • expansions or contractions in the winter ranges of feeder birds
  • the kinds of foods and environmental factors that attract birds
  • how disease is spread among birds that visit feeders
• Participant Activities

  (1) Set-up a bird feeder; (2) Count the birds that visit; (3) send the data to scientists. Step-by-step instructions for each of these steps are on the website.

• Data Entry

  • Website
  • Data Sheets
• Other Participant Activities

  The project provides educator and home school resources, as well as "participants' corner" with forums, group projects, and other ways to learn and communicate with other Feeder Watch participants

• System Studied

  • Birds
• Geographic Scope

  National
• Region

  All (see 'geographic scope')
• Location

  Wherever you can set up and observe a bird feeder
• Location - Map

  N / A
• Time Commitment

  • Other (see Other Information below)
• Volunteer Qualifications

  N / A
• Volunteer Training

  Participants receive a Research Kit, which contains instructions, a bird identification poster, a wall calendar, a resource guide to bird feeding, and a tally sheet. U.S. participants receive a subscription to the Lab of Ornithology's newsletter, BirdScope.

• Cost to Participant

  $18 annual participation fee ($15 for Lab members, CAN$35 for Canadian participants), which covers materials, staff support, web design, data analysis, and a year-end report

• How will the findings be used?

  FeederWatch information and results are regularly published in

  • Scientific Journals
              - The Condor  
              - The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

  • Regional Birding, Garden, and Nature Newsletters
              - Birdscope, newsletter of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 
              - BirdWatch Canada, newsletter of Bird Studies Canada

  • National Magazines
              - Audubon Magazine
              - Birder's World
              - BirdWatchers Digest
              - Birds and Bloom

  • Newspapers nationwide

  FeederWatch data were used for a book about backyard birds calledBirds at Your Feeder. Sample pages of the book can be seen onGoogle Books.

  FeederWatch data are also used to help Project FeederWatch participants and Lab of Ornithology members learn more about feeder birds through the project's annual publication, Winter Bird Highlights, which reports results from each season.

  Data is also available to participants through the website.

• Other Information

  The feeder survey is conducted each winter starting on the second Saturday of November and runs for 21 weeks, through the first Friday of April. You may join at any time of year. The last day to sign up for any given season is Feb. 28 or 29. On Mar. 1 we begin taking sign-ups for the following season. Kits are shipped in the fall or, if you sign up during the season, about 2 weeks after you sign up.

  Participants select their own bird-count days--two consecutive days once every two weeks (or every week if participants enter data online and choose to count that often).

• Photo

  N / A
• last update:

  N / A